Racing Kings

A pure race. No pawns, no captures of kings, and no checks at all.

The rules

Every piece starts on the first two ranks, and there are no pawns. The two
sides start on opposite wings rather than facing each other.

The goal is to get your king to the eighth rank.

Checks are illegal. You may not make any move that gives check — not to
escape a threat, not to gain time, not ever. This is the rule that shapes the
whole variant.

If White reaches the eighth rank, Black gets one more move. If Black can reach
it too, the game is a draw. Otherwise White wins.

What changes

You cannot attack the enemy king at all, so there is no attacking play in the
usual sense. What you can do is block: cover the squares their king needs,
and stand in the way.

Because checks are illegal, your own pieces near the enemy king restrict your
options as well. A piece can be so well placed that it forbids half your moves.

What to watch for

Count the race honestly. Work out how many moves each king needs. If you are
a move behind, blocking is not optional — racing anyway simply loses.

Watch for the draw. As White, arriving first is not enough if Black arrives
immediately after. The winning move is often the one that also takes away a
square from their king.